Plows, schools and CTA are bracing for 18-24 inches of snow

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Update 2:45 p.m.: Look outside. It appears the storm that meteorologists have been talking about since the weekend has arrived.

It seems that warnings of a massive blizzard have been heard and heeded.

All over Chicagoland, grocery stores are seeing longer lines than normal. Hardware stores are selling massive amounts of salt. Hospitals are putting staff members up in hotels. And many children -- and their parents -- are waiting for word on school closings.

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Jose Santiago says every Chicago resident should brace for a storm that will be remembered for a long time.

(Published Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011)

"The message we want to send is 'Be prepared,'" said NBC Chicago meteorologist Brant Miller.

With talk that the storm on Tuesday and Wednesday could rank among the biggest since records were kept in Chicago, city officials say they're preparing for the worst.

"If we get the amount of snow that some are predicting, it will be the largest snowstorm in Chicago since 1967. This means very large amounts of snow, falling temperatures and high winds, especially around the lakefront," said Mayor Richard Daley's Chief of Staff, Raymond Orozco.

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The city's 274 snow-fighting trucks, as well as 120 garbage trucks armed with plows, will be out working to clear arterial streets.

The Chicago Transit Authority said it will operate regular weekday schedule throughout the storm but is prepared to provide early rush hour service on Tuesday for those attempting to head home from work early.

On those rail lines that don’t operate 24 hours, such as the Green, Orange, Brown, Pink, Purple and Yellow lines, the CTA will dispatch additional sleet trains to keep snow from building up on the tracks and the third rail from icing over.

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The fire department has suspended training and will increase the alarm of every call to increase preparedness. Other fire crews will be on the streets digging out hydrants.

The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning for the Chicago area beginning at 3 p.m. Tuesday and lasting until 3 p.m. Wednesday.